| Reports of visits to Japan of POWs |
Former Australian POWs visit Japan at the fourth invitation of the Japanese Government
2013-09-30/10-07
Four former POWs and their family members visited Japan from September 30 to October 7, 2013. This is the fourth program that the Japanese government has run for former Australian POWs. Three of them were forced to work at the Burma-Thailand Railway and were sent to Japan. Another was captured on New Ireland and was sent to Japan. All of them were over 90 years old. They were warmheartedly welcomed wherever they visited and enjoyed the fruitful trip.
Description of the participants
|
Mr. Charles Arthur Edwards Age:95 |
|
|
He became a POW Captured in Parit Sulon, Malaysia in January 1942. He was sent to Singapore in September 1942 and interned in some camps such as Changi, Havelock Road and River Valley Road. He was transferred to the Burma-Thailand Railway in February 1943 and was forced to labor in various camps along the railway. After the railway was completed, he was back to Singapore in May 1944. He left Singapore for Japan on Rashin-Maru in July 1944 and arrived at Moji in September. He was interned in Ohama Camp (Hiroshima 9-B) where he was liberated. |
|
|
Mr. George William "Peter" Dixon Age:92 |
|
|
He became a POW in Kavien, New Ireland Island in January 1942. He left Rabaul for Japan on Naruto-Maru in July 1942. He was interned in Zentsuji Camp (Hiroshima 1-B), and was transferred to Hanaoka Camp (Sendai 8-B) where he was liberated. |
|
|
Mr. Adye Glen Rockliff Age:91 |
|
|
He became a POW in Java in March 1942.3 and was interned in Java No.1 Branch Camp in Bandung in August 1942. He was transferred to Java Main Camp in Batavia in November 1942. He was sent to the Burma-Thailand Railway in January 1943 and was forced to labor in various camps along the Railway. After the railway was completed, he was back to Singapore in May 1944. He left Singapore for Japan on Rashin-Maru in July 1944 and arrived at Moji in September. He was interned in Ohama Camp (Hiroshima 9-B) where he was liberated. |
|
|
Mr. Alexander White Age:92 |
|
|
He became a POW Captured in Singapore in February 1942 and moved from one camp to another such as Changi, Bukit Timah, Adam Park and Lawn(?) Road. He was transferred to the Burma-Thailand Railway in March 1943 and was forced to labor in various camps along the railway such as Tarsau, Tampi, and Tonchan. After the railway was completed he was back to Tamarkan and was taken to hospital in Nakhon Pathon. He left the hospital in April 1945 and transferred from Ban Pong to Prachab Kirikan. After working in Mergui Road, he returned to Nakhon Pathon where he was liberated. |
|
Schedule
Sep. 30 (Mon): Arrive at Narita airport
Oct. 1 (Tue)
Morning: Visit Edo-Tokyo Museum
Afternoon: Visit the Australian Embassy
Oct. 2 (Wed)
Morning: Pay a courtesy visit with the Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.
Please see the website of MOFA >>Link
Afternoon: Friendship Meeting with Japanese Citizens in Tokyo
Please see the detailed report >>Link
 |
 |
| Visit the Foreign Minister Kishida | Friendship meeting with Japanese citizens in Tokyo |
Oct. 3 (Thu)
| Visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokohama |  |
| The Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokohama |
Oct. 4 (Fri) - 5 (Sat)
Ohama: Mr. Edwards and Mr. Rockliff
Nara: Mr. Dixon
Hiroshima: Mr. White
 |
 |
| Mr. Edwards and Mr. Rockliff with local people in Sanyo-Onoda City | Mr. Dixon at Tsumai Elementary School in Nara |
 |
|
| Mr. White at Noboricho Elementary School in Hiroshima |
Oct. 6 (Sun): Kyoto
| Visit Ryozen Kannon Temple where the roster of all POWs who died during the war is kept. Sightseeing in Kyoto. |  |
| Ryozen Kannon Temple |
Oct. 7 (Mon)
Depart from Kansai International airport
